Al-Afdal

Al-Afdal ad-Din (1169-1225) was the eldest natural son of Saladin, and a general of the Ayyubid Empire.

Biography
Al-Afdal was the eldest son of Salah ad-Din of Egypt, and was one of his generals. Dubious, unappreciated, extravagant, reserved, chivalrous, pious, and loyal, he was Saladin's favored son. In 1187, he defeated Gerard de Ridefort and the Knights Templar at the Battle of Cresson, and killed Knights Hospitaller master Roger de Moulins. When Saladin died in 1193, he took over Syria and fought against his brother Al-Aziz, with uncle Al-Adil acting as a broker between the two. In 1196 he was defeated and Al-Adil became the Ayyubid sultan.

Al-Afdal proved his skills in taking Acre in 1206, which threw the Kingdom of Jerusalem back into the sea, and in 1212 he secured Baniyas from Syrian rebels.